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Difference Quotient

Delta_hf(x)=(f(x+h)-f(x))/h=(Deltaf)/h.

It gives the slope of the secant line passing through f(x) and f(x+h). In the limit h->0, the difference quotient becomes the partial derivative

lim_(h->0)Delta_(x(h))f(x,y)=(partialf)/(partialx).

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Cite this as:

Weisstein, Eric W. "Difference Quotient." From MathWorld--A Wolfram Web Resource. https://mathworld.wolfram.com/DifferenceQuotient.html

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